Curated by real gardeners

Foundation Plants

The shrubs that frame a house: 3–6 feet tall, tidy without constant shearing, and good-looking across all four seasons. These are the picks that flatter a foundation instead of swallowing it.

981 plantsRanked by real gardeners

The 24 most-saved picks

#1 most saved

Incrediball Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'

Zones 4–9· 339 saves· from $21

#2 most saved

Plum Rosy False Indigo

Baptisia x hybrida 'Plum Rosy'

Zones 4–9· 290 saves· from $20

#3 most saved

Bicolor Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii 'Bicolor'

Zones 5–9· 289 saves

Flutterbye Rose

Rosa x hybrida 'Flutterbye'

Zones 5–10· 273 saves

In Your Eyes Rose

Rosa x hybrida 'In Your Eyes'

Zones 5–10· 226 saves· from $75

Little Lime Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Lime'

Zones 4–8· 173 saves· from $18

Twilight Zone Rose

Rosa x grandiflora 'Twilight Zone'

Zones 5–10· 158 saves· from $100

Bloomstruck Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bloomstruck'

Zones 4–9· 155 saves· from $23

Fun in the Sun Rose

Rosa x hybrida 'Fun in the Sun'

Zones 5–10· 155 saves· from $80

All Summer Beauty Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla 'All Summer Beauty'

Zones 5–9· 153 saves· from $12

Green Mountain Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens 'Green Mountain'

Zones 4–9· 152 saves· from $19

Blue Spire Russian Sage

Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Blue Spire'

Zones 4–9· 146 saves

Annabelle Hydrangea Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Zones 4–8· 145 saves· from $13

Grand Cascade Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii 'Grand Cascade'

Zones 5–10· 139 saves· from $30

Double Knock Out Rose

Rosa x hybrida 'Double Knock Out'

Zones 5–10· 139 saves· from $24

Invincibelle Spirit II Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit II'

Zones 4–9· 138 saves· from $20

Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Ruby Slippers'

Zones 5–9· 137 saves· from $15

Little Lime Punch Hydrangea

Hydrangea x macrophylla 'Little Lime Punch'

Zones 4–8· 133 saves· from $21

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Gal'

Zones 5–9· 121 saves· from $25

Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii 'Butterfly Haven'

Zones 5–9· 120 saves

Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii 'Pugster Blue'

Zones 4–9· 118 saves· from $19

Invincibelle Limetta Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Limetta'

Zones 4–9· 115 saves· from $20

Butterfly Bush Attraction

Buddleia davidii 'Attraction'

Zones 5–10· 112 saves

Butterfly Bush

Buddleja davidii 'Hot Raspberry'

Zones 5–9· 112 saves· from $10

Foundation questions

How far from the house should foundation shrubs go?

Half the shrub’s mature width plus a foot — typically 2.5–4 feet out. Planting tight to the wall is the #1 foundation mistake; it costs air circulation now and siding later.

Keep exploring

Find the right foundation plants for YOUR yard

Sow matches plants to your zone, sun, and style — then designs the bed and reminds you how to care for it.

Foundation Plants

The 24 most-saved picks

Foundation questions

Keep exploring

Top genera here

More collections

By hardiness zone

Find the right foundation plants for YOUR yard